Curator

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Singapore Art Museum opened in 1996 as the first art museum in Singapore. Also known as SAM, we present contemporary art from a Southeast Asian perspective for artists, art lovers and the art curious in multiple venues across the island, including a new venue in the historic port area of Tanjong Pagar.

SAM is building one of the world's most important public collections of Southeast Asian contemporary art, with the aim of connecting the art and the artists to the public and future generations through exhibitions and programmes. SAM is working towards a humane and sustainable future by committing to responsible practices within its processes.

For more information, visit www.singaporeartmuseum.sg.

RESPONSIBILITIES

In Brief

The Curator contributes to the development of exhibitions, commissions, acquisitions, and related research initiatives in alignment with the Singapore Art Museum's curatorial direction.

Beyond project delivery, the role requires institutional awareness, sound curatorial judgement, and the ability to position artistic practices clearly within broader cultural and social contexts. The Curator is expected to think and operate at the level of the institution, ensuring that proposals, research, and public-facing work contribute coherently to SAM's evolving direction.

The Curator works collaboratively across Production, Learning and Programmes, Interpretation & Publishing, and Collections to ensure that projects are conceptually rigorous, operationally viable, and publicly articulated with clarity.

Key Responsibilities

Research & Curatorial Development

• Conduct sustained research on contemporary art practices globally, contributing to discourse while maintaining strong contextual literacy in Singapore and Asia.
• Develop focused areas of specialisation that support SAM's strategic priorities, demonstrating curatorial discernment in the selection and positioning of artists and projects.
• Articulate clear conceptual stakes and institutional relevance in all proposals.

Learning & Programmes Development

• Collaborate with Learning and Programmes teams from early stages of project development to ensure conceptual clarity and pedagogical coherence. Contribute to interpretive frameworks that support diverse audiences and align curatorial intent with access and public programming strategies.

Exhibitions & Commissions

• Conceptualise and deliver exhibitions, commissions, and related projects from research through implementation.
• Prepare project proposals addressing conceptual rationale, feasibility, and resource implications.
• Collaborate closely with Production and technical teams from early stages to ensure responsible planning of timelines, budgets, and operational requirements.
• Engage external artists and partners with professionalism, transparency, and care.

Collections & Acquisitions

• Identify and propose acquisitions aligned with SAM's collecting strategy.
• Prepare acquisition proposals with rigorous contextual grounding and institutional clarity.
• Participate constructively in internal review processes and acquisition discussions.

Interpretation & Public Articulation

• Contribute to interpretive materials across formats (exhibition texts, essays, digital content, public talks).
• Work with Interpretation & Publishing colleagues to ensure that research is translated into accessible and intellectually precise public communication.
• Participate in public programmes and discourse platforms where appropriate.

Institutional Contribution

• Build and maintain professional networks locally and internationally.
• Work collegially across departments to facilitate project delivery and access.
• Manage project timelines, budgets, and administrative responsibilities under assigned portfolios.
• Contribute to institutional planning discussions as required.

• Graduate or post-graduate degree in contemporary art, art pedagogy, visual cultures, or related fields.
• Minimum five years of relevant curatorial experience in institutional contexts.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with learning or public engagement teams to translate curatorial research into meaningful public-facing experiences.
• Experience contributing to interpretive frameworks that support diverse audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound curatorial judgement and institutional awareness.
• Strong research and writing skills, with evidence of clear public articulation.
• Experience managing projects responsibly, including timelines and budgets.
• Familiarity with time-based, socially engaged, cross-disciplinary, and hybrid artistic practices is an advantage.
• Fluency in English; additional language skills are beneficial.